MEMPHIS: GUARDS: The Grizzlies will scale back MIKE CONLEY's minutes a bit. He's a quality starting point guard, but seemed to lose some pep as last season wore on . . . TONY ALLEN figures to see more playing time now that O.J. Mayo is gone. He's an outstanding defender who will be the fifth option on offense . . . JERRYD BAYLESS figures to become the new sixth man and Allen platoon partner. He'll also spell Conley at the point, leading to solid minutes for the combo guard . . . Second-year man JOSH SELBY has a chance for a rotation spot after starring in the Summer League. He has big offensive upside . . . WAYNE ELLINGTON seems like an emergency plan for the second unit . . . This is likely a redshirt year for talented, but erratic, rookie TONY WROTEN. FORWARDS: RUDY GAY is going to lead the Grizzlies in touches and shots. He's not shy about looking for iso situations . . . ZACH RANDOLPH had trouble getting back into the flow after his knee injury. It's always been a fragile balance with Z-Bo, and he could be an odd man out going forward . . . MARREESE SPEIGHTS should be the offensive focal point of the bench unit as their sixth man . . . QUINCY PONDEXTER is a versatile defensive piece who will see solid minutes off the bench. He's a non-factor offensively, though . . . DARRELL ARTHUR suffered a non-displaced fractured in his leg in late September, and will not likely be ready when the season begins. A rising young big, his role will depend on when his athleticism comes back. CENTERS: The Grizzlies are at their best when MARC GASOL is getting touches and shots on the offensive end. Whether or not Gay and Randolph are willing to share is a concern, but Gasol has to be aggressive when the ball is in his hands . . . HAMED HADDADI will continue to play limited minutes off the bench.

BOSTON: GUARDS: This offense now belongs to RAJON RONDO, and that should be especially true during the regular season . . . Even if he comes off the bench, JASON TERRY figures to see the bulk of the minutes at shooting guard. He provides some much-needed outside shooting after Ray Allen left and should challenge Paul Pierce for the team lead in shot attempts . . . Adding COURTNEY LEE was more of a move for the future. He's a fine young second-unit player for now and should be an heir apparent on one of the wings . . . AVERY BRADLEY could be out until December after shoulder surgery. As Boston's best perimeter defensive player, he could reclaim his starting job in the season's second half . . . The addition of LEANDRO BARBOSA gives Boston another veteran who can create his own offense in the second unit, something that was sorely missing in last year's playoff run. FORWARDS: PAUL PIERCE quietly had a great regular season last year. Though with some improved depth behind him, Rivers might have his 35-year-old All-Star wing rest more often . . . BRANDON BASS gives them another scoring option, even if he does struggle on the defensive end. He'll get full-time minutes only in certain matchups as long as the frontcourt is healthy . . . JEFF GREEN's heart condition is no longer a concern, but the tweener's role in Boston after a year off is cause for worry . . . There are already question marks surrounding rookie JARED SULLINGER's back. He's very similar to Bass: He can score out to mid-range but doesn't play much defense. Expect him to be strictly a second-unit player in his first NBA season . . . CHRIS WILCOX will provide fouls off the bench when healthy. CENTERS: The Celtics are prepared to go with KEVIN GARNETT in the middle, which was the case when they were at their best last season. His role on offense is still knocking down mid-range jumpers, and he's still an elite defensive player . . . Professional flopper JASON COLLINS will fill in nicely for the departed Greg Stiemsma . . . FAB MELO is years away from being ready to contribute (if he actually is ever ready to contribute) and DARKO MILICIC was also added via free agency for more frontcourt depth.